Posted: 7/19/2010 10:54:55 PM EDT
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Okay, here's the scenario: I am getting back to my camp after having fallen into an icy pond. I'm totally soaked, and shivering violently.
I have a fire already laid out, kindling, etc ready to go. I break open 2 bottles of fire starter. Each bottle contains 1/2 of a mixture that, when mixed, will produce a fire hot enough to start the firewood reliably. What are these chemicals? Are they available commercially? Can they even be obtained? And are they safe to use, without dangerous fumes? DOD and NASA use hypergolic mixtures but their chemicals are very dangerous. |
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Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) is cheap and readily available in big box stores.
It has many SHTF uses besides fire starting. Glycerin is also readily available. It too has many uses. Nitrating it is a blast. 
In a pinch, you can use ethylene glycol based anti-freeze as your part B. You want hot? It's the recommended reaction to ignite thermite. |
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Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) is cheap and readily available in big box stores. It has many SHTF uses besides fire starting. Glycerin is also readily available. It too has many uses. Nitrating it is a blast.
In a pinch, you can use ethylene glycol based anti-freeze as your part B. You want hot? It's the recommended reaction to ignite thermite. THIS. i have played with this combo many times. but also mentioned is a flair. a 15min road flair would most defiantly light said fire. |
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Fifth of Everclear and a match will light frozen wood. Don't ask me how I know this, my memory is impaired  LOLOL oh I could tell you some stories about the everclear......nasty nasty stuff.......sorry for the hijack just brought back some memories...well parts of what I remember anyways to the OP, dont over think it......bic lighter......if you want put it in a small ziplock and stuff that in a pill box |
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Little off track but.
After falling in icy pond i would have stuffed dry grass and tree branch's in between the wet cloths and me. It will keep you warmer for longer time. If there was dry snow i would have rolled in it also. We normally have gas,oil and lighter fluid while out in the boat/snogo. |
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Fifth of Everclear and a match will light frozen wood. Don't ask me how I know this, my memory is impaired This is a pretty interesting idea. Bust the bottle of Everclear over the firewood (since my hands are frozen and essentially my fingers are next to useless) to soak the firewood. Now, how to strike a match or otherwise light the flame, with frozen fingers? Potassium permaganate is pretty interesting stuff. Uses
Almost all applications of potassium permanganate exploit its oxidizing properties.[2] As a strong oxidant that does not generate toxic byproducts [italics are mine], KMnO4 has many niche uses. Potassium permanganate is one of the principal chemicals utilised in the film and television industries to "age" props and set dressings. Its oxidising effects create "hundred year old" or "ancient" looks on hessian cloth, ropes, timber and glass.[3] It was used on props and sets in films such as "Troy", "300" and "Indiana Jones".[citation needed] [edit] Disinfectant and water treatment As an oxidant, potassium permanganate can act as a disinfectant. For example, dilute solutions are used to treat canker sores (ulcers), disinfectant for the hands and treatment for mild pompholyx, dermatitis,[4][5] and fungal infections of the hands or feet.[6] Potassium permanganate, obtainable at pool supply stores, is used in rural areas to remove iron and hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) from well and waste water. Historically it was used to disinfect drinking water.[7] [edit] Biomedical uses Related to the use of KMnO4 for water treatment, this salt is often employed as a specialized disinfectant for treating human and animal ailments. In histology, it is used to bleach melanin which obscures tissue detail. Potassium permanganate can also be used to differentiate amyloid AA from other types of amyloid pathologically deposited in body tissues. Incubation of fixed tissue with potassium permanganate will prevent amyloid AA from staining with congo red whereas other types of amyloid are unaffected.  [9] Permanganate washes were once used to treat gonorrhea and are still used to treat candidiasis.[10]From THIS WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE In combination with these chemicals (from Colonel Hurtz' post), it'd serve quite well. Glycerin is also readily available.
It too has many uses. Nitrating it is a blast. In a pinch, you can use ethylene glycol based anti-freeze as your part B. |
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I looked in Home depot for it but never could find what product was Potassium permanganate. Anybody know? Maybe HD doesn't have it? Anybody know what products are Potassium permanganate? I bought it in HD, it's in the water softener section. Right next to the "green sand"; plastic jug usually with a purple lable. Ace should have it too, also pool supply places and aquarium/pond stores. Use caution, it's potent shit undiluted. |
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In a pinch, you can use ethylene glycol based anti-freeze as your part B. Isn't this likely to emit noxious fumes? You're fucking with KMnO4 and you're worried about a little glycol? 
Go buy USP glycerin at Walmart if you're that concerned. It reacts better anyway and softens your poop. |
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Surplus stores and gunshows have "Heat tabs". Used them to cook with in Vietnam. They are easy to light and burn for more then several minutes. Great for starting fires with wood etc.. They come in aluminum foil packages that are easy to tear open. If opened they will evaporate if not sealed. Small and easy to carry.
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I like the combination of shivering violently and mixing/pouring flamable chemicals. And, "Damn I can't stop shaking. Oops, spilled a bunch of Everclear all over my sleeves. Here, now I'll light this fire." Clearly I'm too shy about having some excitement in my life.
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| if you get too exotic with your emergency fire starting kit it might fail you when you really need it...remember K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid)..i use a G.I. trioxane tab and a fero rod,works every time even on damp or wet wood..and still issued in larger U.S. military survival kits...vince g. 11B Inf.. |
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I use this stuff to prime my kerosene stove when I don't have denatured alcohol around. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nOjarcxhL._SS500_.jpg It's stable, portable, and cheap. with firepaste, I see a whole nother thread down the road. 
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